🔤 Tiny Steps • Foundation course

Phonics Foundation Course for Kids | Beginner Phonics Classes

Live 1:1 beginner phonics course for kids building letter sounds, oral blending, CVC decoding, early spelling, and reading readiness through 31 structured lessons.

Ages 3–731 lessonsFlexible pace₹400/class

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Premium 1:1 pricing starts at ₹400/class, with the 12-class starter plan at ₹4,800 when that format fits your child.

Parent trust

This page includes a curated sample of parent feedback for this course level. If you are unsure whether this is the right starting point, book the free 35-minute 1:1 online demo assessment class first and ask for the exact first 12-class plan before enrolling.

Pricing trust

₹400/class • ₹4,800 / 12 classes

Delivery model

Assessment first, then level-based progression

Students guided

5000+

Structured programs across phonics, grammar, reading, and speaking

Countries reached

15+

Parent trust built across India and global family communities

Course level

Foundation

Assessment-led placement before enrollment

Program format

Live 1:1

Pacing adjusts to the child rather than a group average

A clear decision path

Follow the page in order, then use the free assessment only if you still need placement help.

01Check the fitMatch the outcomes to what your child needs now.
02See the learning pathReview the exact stages and lesson sequence.
03Review parent feedbackRead feedback from the same course level.
04Clear final questionsCheck placement and progression before deciding.

Step 1 · Course fit

First, check what this course is designed to improve

Match these outcomes to what you are seeing now. If several points fit your child, continue to the lesson path below.

Quick overview

• Letter sounds
• Short vowels
• Sound practice
• Structured revision
• Grand revision

Learning outcomes

• Recognize core letter sounds
• Blend simple CVC words
• Read and spell short words

Course fit · Phonics stage

Is Phonics Foundations the right starting stage for my child?

Phonics Foundations is the beginner stage for children who still need secure letter-sound links, oral blending, CVC decoding, and early spelling. Placement is based on what the child can do during assessment, not age alone.

Signs this may be the right starting stage

• Knows some letter names but cannot reliably give the matching sounds.
• Can say individual sounds but cannot yet blend them into a word.
• Guesses short words from pictures or memory instead of decoding them.
• Needs a structured first pathway into CVC reading and early spelling.

Skills this stage builds

• Hear, identify, and recall core speech sounds.
• Connect sounds to written letters and graphemes.
• Blend sounds to read simple CVC words.
• Segment short words to support early spelling.
• Move from isolated sounds into short decodable reading practice.

Readiness to move forward

• Recalls the core sounds taught with growing automaticity.
• Blends and decodes simple CVC words with less prompting.
• Segments familiar short words for spelling with improving accuracy.
• Is ready to extend into digraphs, vowel patterns, and broader phonics rules.

Tiny Steps phonics progression

Foundation, Early, and Advanced are readiness-based stages. The assessment helps identify the most useful starting point, and children move forward when the underlying skills are secure rather than simply because of age.

Stage 1 • FoundationCurrent stage
Phonics Foundations
Build letter-sound knowledge, oral blending, CVC decoding, early spelling, and reading readiness.
Stage 2 • Early
Early Phonics
Extend decoding through digraphs, long vowels, vowel teams, core phonics rules, and more systematic spelling.
Stage 3 • Advanced
Advanced Phonics
Apply advanced sound patterns to longer words, spelling, connected reading, and smoother fluency.

Step 2 · Learning path

Then, see how the course unfolds lesson by lesson

The first stage is open as a sample. Expand only the stages you want to inspect, or open all stages for a complete curriculum view.

See the detailed lesson sequence for this level below. For the relationship between Phonics, Grammar, and Speaking, see the complete Tiny Steps curriculum roadmap.

Open a stage to compare its goal, lessons, and learning outcomes.

Lessons in this stage

Lesson 1 — Letter S
Lesson 2 — Letter A
Lesson 3 — Letter T
Lesson 4 — Letter I
Lesson 5 — Letter P
Lesson 6 — Letter N

Step 3 · Parent feedback

Parent feedback for Phonics Foundations

Approved feedback from families in this exact course level, shown after the curriculum so you can compare the learning plan with the outcomes parents noticed.

View all program reviews

★★★★★

Strong reading start

"My daughter moved from letter names to letter sounds in a clear way. Blending practice was simple and consistent. She now reads short words with confidence."

— Neha

Parent of a 5-year-old learner

Hyderabad

Phonics Foundations

★★★★★

Structured and calm teaching

"Classes are well paced and my son stays focused till the end. Teacher attention is very good. We finally have a practical home reading routine."

— Ritika

Parent of a 6-year-old learner

Bengaluru

Phonics Foundations

★★★★★

Clear sound clarity

"Earlier my child guessed words. Now she uses sounds and blends properly. Her confidence while reading aloud has improved a lot."

— Kavya

Parent of a 5-year-old learner

Pune

Phonics Foundations

Step 4 · Before you decide

Questions parents usually ask before enrolling

Use these answers to clear placement, progression, and course-expectation questions before choosing a starting level.

What is a phonics foundation course?

A phonics foundation course is the beginner stage of structured phonics instruction. It builds sound awareness, letter-sound correspondence, oral blending, CVC decoding, early segmenting for spelling, and the first habits needed for independent word reading.

Who is the phonics foundation course best for?

It is best for children who are still building sound-letter links, early blending, CVC decoding, and confidence with short decodable words. A child may know ABC names and still need this stage if they cannot yet blend sounds to read.

Does my child need Foundation Phonics if they already know the alphabet?

Possibly. Knowing alphabet names is different from using speech sounds to decode. If a child knows ABC but cannot blend sounds, read simple CVC words, or segment short words for spelling, Foundation Phonics may still be the appropriate starting stage.

What does a child learn first in phonics foundation?

Children begin by hearing and identifying sounds, connecting those sounds to letters, practising oral blending, and reading simple CVC words before moving into more independent decoding and early spelling.

How long does the Tiny Steps Phonics Foundations course take?

The published Foundation curriculum contains 31 lessons, but completion time is not fixed. Tiny Steps uses assessment-led placement and a flexible pace, so revision or progression can be adjusted to the child’s readiness.

What comes after the phonics foundation stage?

Children who can recall core sounds, blend and decode simple words, and segment short words more independently can move into Early Phonics, where they begin broader patterns such as digraphs, long vowels, vowel teams, and additional phonics rules.

Is phonics placement based only on age?

No. The age range is a guide, but placement should follow demonstrated reading readiness. Tiny Steps uses the assessment to decide whether a child needs Foundation, Early, or Advanced Phonics rather than moving children forward only because of age.

How can parents support this course at home?

Short, low-pressure review is usually more useful than long drills. Parents can revisit the sounds and blending patterns already taught in class and use brief decodable reading practice without introducing harder patterns too early.

Not sure this is the right starting level?

The free 35-minute 1:1 demo is an assessment, not a commitment. We’ll check your child’s current skills, confirm the most useful starting level, and suggest the first learning focus.

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Related parent resources

See the complete Tiny Steps phonics program Continue to Early Phonics View the full curriculum roadmap What is phonics for kids?Why letter sounds alone are not enough to read How kids learn blending Book one free 35-minute 1:1 online demo assessment class